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I concur with all those who say, if your going anytime, two up, the choice is Road King vs Heritage.
But you need to ride both. They ride quite differently (speaking pre-M8s) and each has strengths and weaknesses.
Heritage has less lean angle. Single disc is okay, especially around town single up. If your wife takes to it, the duel discs of the touring hold up better over long distances and two up touring. The shock travel is much greater on Road King and it has Hard bags.
You started off talking about a Fat Boy. Great street bike, run to the beach and back, to the bar, but you need to wear what you will need all day. Both the Heritage and RK carry stuff easily. Great when the wife is along especially if you start taking longer rides. The Fat Boy is a basic solo bike, cool if you have a friend who rides and you get together on the weekend for a ride. At 25, it is a great two up bike, at 50, not so much.
But they are so different, you need to ride both. Sure the RK is 100# heavier, but is rides light.
You cannot go wrong with either bike. Both will need a sissybar and maybe a rack. If your wife really gets to enjoying riding with you, you'll probably want to add a tour pack down the road. If she enjoys it, you'll start using it more than planned. It is a great way to reconnect in so many ways with your spouse.
If you find a used white (pearl), they can be outstanding.
RK is 100# heavier. Lowest end of the H-D Touring models. Could be either a Pro or Con.
RK is only available with the M8-107. Neither a Pro or Con unless you want a 114.
Cost difference - nil.
I don't see White for either. Love my Twisted Cherry but Black is always beautiful...then so is the Olive, Blue, Silver.... Happy wife, let her pick the color!!!!!
If most of your riding will be solo, I still vote for a Heritage.
On the RK, more bag space.
Better lean angle.
Bigger gas tank
More room for passenger
Was wrong on the brakes, they both suck in that department. RK's are a little better with the 4 piston rear vs 2 on Heritage.
Last edited by TeaRunner; Jun 11, 2018 at 03:03 PM.
I chose the Road King ( purchased new in 2017). I ride two up about half the time and with the Sundowner seat and good passenger back rest, wife is happy. We just rode yesterday around 225 miles and we both were ready to ride more.
Yes, its on the heavy side, but I'm 5-7", no Andre the Giant and I have no trouble navigating parking lots with her on the back.
I'm planning on adding a king tour pack so that moves her back a little more to give is added room plus more storage for the cr*p she saw up in New Palz New York this past weekend,LOL.
I'll throw anther vote in on the heritage but again it's what I ride and love it. Can go all day easily. Although I have been eyeing up a street glide lately.
Same boat as you, just picked up an Anniversary Fatboy. For me it was comfy ride, a buddy of mine the past week took a hundred mile ride and nothing ached for me. I've always been a ninja bike rider and when I decided to get back into it the better half convinced me to look at HD. No regrets!!. The wife was a little concerned about the passenger seat but with a back rest she felt comfy. She to is not long distance rider more for just the token back road ride. I do know the make different seats for the passenger. But definitely test drive what ever your thinking about getting.
It’s long overdue, but I’ll finally have time to ride again soon. I rode regularly in my younger years, but it’s nearing 20 yrs since; no wonder some say I’m grumpy.
Looking to buy new...
Wife says she will jump on back for dayrides and less than 250 mile trips. I will be cruising solo more often.
Question is can a Fatboy be made comfy enough for her with some type of touring type seating that can be
taken on and off without too much hassle? Or, do I go straight to touring bike?
Heritage is the nicest looking bike HD makes IMO. It has function (bags/shield/backrest for passenger) & is like a dressed up Fatboy. It looks good w/ the passenger seat/backrest on. Great bike IMO. And easy to ride. Low center of gravity.
Dadgum!
yall make great points that start leaning me one way...
then another post gets me liking the other again. FB is out; RK or Heritage
I live in a small town almost an hour from the city. We may wander into the city a time or two monthly, but most of my local riding will be exploring off state hwys and county rds with the wife on back a good portion of the time
Dadgum!
yall make great points that start leaning me one way...
then another post gets me liking the other again. FB is out; RK or Heritage
I live in a small town almost an hour from the city. We may wander into the city a time or two monthly, but most of my local riding will be exploring off state hwys and county rds with the wife on back a good portion of the time
Same boat as you, just picked up an Anniversary Fatboy. For me it was comfy ride, a buddy of mine the past week took a hundred mile ride and nothing ached for me. I've always been a ninja bike rider and when I decided to get back into it the better half convinced me to look at HD. No regrets!!. The wife was a little concerned about the passenger seat but with a back rest she felt comfy. She to is not long distance rider more for just the token back road ride. I do know the make different seats for the passenger. But definitely test drive what ever your thinking about getting.
JK
I have a 2020 fatboy black anniversary. With the sundowner pillion rear seat, it was a game changer. Before that, after three hours of riding my wife was complaining, now no issue. I kept the stock driver seat cause Im a moto x guy and have a tolerance. But with that seat my wife outlast me. Got the black quick release back low rest and pad and added the rack and pack, and its a good touring bike for a 61 guy 220 lbs and 58 gal 140. The fatboy shines on single rider 3 hour bar hop rides, but it does well when you add the right accessories for two up and a little touring. I think for long two up rides the street glide or road glide is the right way to do it. I intend to buy a SG in the next year but wouldnt sell my fatboy, and Im sure well still use the fatboy two up with the back rack luggage unless were really going for a journey.
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